Plastic fan stand



Sept. 1, 1942. A. F. FUKAL PLASTIC FAN STAND.

Filed July 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1, 1942. A" F FUKAL,2,294,399

PLASTIC FAN STAND Filed July 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 1,1942 PLASTIC FAN STAND Ali'red F. Fukal, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor toWilliamW. Welch, Cincinnati, Ohio Application July 23, 1941, Serial No.403,702

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a fan stand assembly and more particularly toa fan stand assembly wherein the fan stand may be made from plasticmolding material.

Electric fan stands that have appeared on the market in the past havebeen made from metal. This results in a heavy assembly that may or maynot harmonize with the surrounding furnishings. Furthermore, for allpractical purposes this assembly has its limitations as far as artisticdesign is concerned.

An object of this invention is to provide a stand for an electric fanthat is'made from a plurality of units molded from plastic moldingmaterial.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan stand made from aplurality of stacked molded pieces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality at'moldedmembers forming a fan guard surrounding the fan blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of moldedmembers surrounding the fan blades so as to form a guard, said membershaving a tear-drop shaped 'cross sectional area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of moldedhoops provided with lugs, the lugs having a tear-drop shaped crosssectional area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of curvedhoops for a guard for the fan blades, said hoops having elongated lugsangularly disposed with respect to the adjacent radius of curvature ofthe hoops, so that the lugs are aligned tangentially with respect to thefan blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of units eachof which encircles the fan blades of an electric-fan, said members beingprovided with elongated spacing projections tangentially disposed withrespect to the outer periphery of the fan blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide a guard for fan bladesincluding a plurality of hoops having inclined surfaces so as to bealigned with an air stream having a conical pattern.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of hoopssurrounding fan blades, the hoops having inclined surfaces and beingsoarranged that the sides of the hoops located on one side of the fanblades are directed towards the center of the fan blades and the sidesof the hoops on the other side are oppositely inclined so as to also bedirected towards the center of the fan blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide Another object of thisinvention is to provide a fan stand having a deflecting cone wherein thedeflecting cone forms an interlocking member for holding the partstogether.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become moreapparent from the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elev-ational view of the preferredembodiment, with parts broken away so as to be shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through theprojections on the ring, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a ring.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top 'plan view of the top of the fan as it appears whenremoved.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the deflecting cone.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially onthe line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figures 10 and 11 are views of fragments of modifications of the ringassembly.

Metallic fan stands like those disclosed in the Welch et al. DesignPatents No. 127,165, No. 127,166 and No. 128,185 are enjoying extensivecommercial use. However, there are several objections. A metallicarticle does not always harmonize with the surroundings. Such fan standsare heavy. It is difficult to secure paint that will last. The finish iseasily scratched and marred. The design is influenced to a great extentby the available shapes and types of bars that appear on the market.

In View of the foregoing, there has been a desire on the .part ofmanufacturers for a radically different type of fan stand. It seems thatplastic molding material offers a. solution. However, plastics as usedin the past have definite limitations, both as to size and as tostrength, particularly if an attempt is made to follow the conventionaldesign of fan stands.

In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the fan stand utilizes aplurality of stacked molded units, thereby eliminating the necessity ofthe use of conventional legs, as will appear more fully from thedetailed description that follows.

Referring to the drawings, the reference charlacter Ill indicates atable top. In the preferred embodiment this table top is substantiallyround. It has been shown round for the purpose of illustration; .but itcould be oval, rectangular, square,

polygonal or any other suitable shape. The margins Illa are curveddownwardly and are somewhat thicker than the main body portion, So as togive the table top rigidity. At spaced intervals the table top isprovided with hollow cavieties lob, which underlie bosses I00.Furthermore, the under side may be reenforced by ribs or flanges.

When a round table top is used, the guard assembly includes a pluralityof rings l2. These rings are preferably tear-drop shaped in crosssectional area. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis of the transversecross sectional area is aligned with the general direction of the aircurrents emerging from the fan blades l4, which will be described morefully later. This has been done to reduce the air resistance. Each ofthe rings is provided with a plurality of spacing and supporting bossesor projections E6. The cross sectional area of these bossesissubstantially tearshaped, again, to reduce resistance to the aircurrents. The longitudinal axis of each projection is substantiallyradially disposed-with respect to the fan blades. Each of the bosses I6is provided with a hole or aperture l8, through which extends aretaining bolt or rod 20.

The four hoops lying above the neutral plane of the fan blades arepositioned so as to accommodate the air stream directed upwardly andoutwardly, so as to have a substantially conical pattern. The hoopsbelow the plane of the fan have been reversed, so as to provide lowresistance to the air currents drawn upwardly towards the fan. Theupperhoops and the lower hoops are identical, as far as the shape isconcerned; but the angle of inclination of the upper hoops is oppositeto the angle of inclination of the lower hoops. This permits identicalhoops being utilized above and below the fan blades. By thisarrangement, the efilciency of the fan is increased, without increasingthe cost thereof. As a matter of fact, it is cheaper to use the sametype of hoops above and below the plane of the fan that it would be touse difierent types of hoops, in that the same molds may be used inmolding all of the hoops.

In the preferred embodiment eleven (11) rings I2 have been used. Eachring is provided with six bosses or extensions I6 arranged in pairs,there being three equally spaced pairs of bosses.

The rings I 2 forming the guard for the fan blades I4 are supported upona base 48. This base 40 is provided with a marginal portion 40a,simulating in appearance a ring. This marginal portion is provided withpairs of apertures aligned with the apertures in the overlying pairs ofbosses in each ring. The base 50 includes three radially disposedbracket-like portions 40b forming a mounting for the electric motor 50.A pluralit of rubber snubbers 52 are mounted between the motor housingand the bracket.

A cone 30 'is located below the table top In. This cone is provided witha plurality of radially disposed ears 32 arranged in pairs and alignedwith the bosses or projections ii on the rings l 2. Each of the ears 32is provided with an aperture registering with the aperture [8 in thebosses, so that the, bolts orrods 20 clamp the rings I2, the cone 30 andthe base 40 into a unitary structure. The cone 30 is provided with aplurality of seats or projections 34 formed from the sheet metal formingthe body of the cone. The seats 34 support bosses 36 extendingdownwardly from the under side of the table top Ill.

These bosses 36 are provided with threaded apertures, receiving screws,not shown. It can readily interlocking unit for interconnecting thetable top to the rings.

The hoops shown in the drawings are circular. The hoops need notnecessarily be circular. They may be square, rectangular, polygonal,oval or any other suitable shape. As shown, the outer edge of the hoopsare thicker than the inner edge. This arrangement could be reversed, sothat the inner edge would be thicker than the outer edge. This is amatter of choice. Likewise, the bosses I6 could be reversed. Theparticular arrangement has merely been shown for the purpose ofillustration, without any intention of limitation. The assembly has beenreferred to as molded from plastic molding material. The parts need notnecessarily be molded from plastic molding material. These parts couldbe made from metal, if desired. It the parts are made from moldingmaterial, plastic molding material may be selected that lends itself tothe use of various shades and colors,

thereby obtaining a wide range of ornamentation. For example, the topcould be one color, the hoops of a different color, or colors, and thebase of any selected color.

In the modification disclosed in Figure 10, a

' ring 50, similar to the ring l2, has been used; but

instead of the tear-drop being radially disposed like the disclosure inthe preferred embodiment, the tear-drop projection 52 is angularlydisposed so as to have its longitudinal axis substantially tangentiallyarranged with respect to the outer margins of the path-swept out by thefan blades. By this arrangement, the resistance to the air may befurther reduced, in that the longitudinal axis of the tear-dropprojections are aligned with the air stream.

In the modification disclosed in Figure 11, a similar ring 64 has beenshown with tear-drop projections 66, wherein the tear-drop projectionsare reversed so as to be pointed inwardly, rather than pointedoutwardly. The shape, the angular position and the arrangement. of theprojections may be selecteddepending' upon the efiiciency of thestructure, the use to which the fan is to be put, et cetera.

Although the preferred embodiment discloses a plurality of annularmembers, rings or hoops enclosing the fan, it is not necessary that themolded members be annular or closed members. The fan guard could bemolded in sections provided with suitable apertures for the circulationof air, these sections being supported upon the base structure andmounted intermediate the base and the top. As far as the use of plasticmolding material is concerned, the detailed shape of the component partsis a matter of choice 'to meet the particular demands. Likewise, themeans for holding the parts together need not necessarily be verticallydisposed rods or bolts. If, for example, a molding material is used thatmay be dissolved by suitable solvent, the parts may be homogeneouslyunited together, so as to' form a unitary structure or the parts may becemented together, interlocked or held together in any other suitablemanner.

Although the preferred modification of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of ,operation, which generallystated consist in'a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the base for enclosingthe motor and the fan, each of said hoops having a tear-drop shapedtransverse cross sectional area, the longitudinal axis of eachtransverse sectional area forming an acute angle with the diameter ofthe hoop so that the hoops have angularly disposed arcuate surfaces, aplurality of projections integral with the hoops, said projecv tionsholding the hoops' in spaced relation from each other, and means forholding the hoops and the base as a unitary structure.

, 2. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the base for enclosingthe motor and the fan, each of said hoops having a teardrop shapedtransverse cross sectional area, the longitudinal axis of eachtransverse sectional area of the hoops located below the plane of thefan blade-being directed upwardly when extended inwardly so as to beinclined in the general direction of the air stream, a plurality ofprojections integral with the hoops, said projections holding the hoopsin spaced relation from each other, and means for holding the hoops andthe base as a unitary structure.

3. An electrician enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the base for enclosingthe motor and the fan, each of said hoops having a tear-drop shapedtransverse cross sectional area, the longitudinal axis of eachtransverse sectional area of the hoops located below the 'plane of thefan blades being directed upwardly when extended inwardly and thelongitudinal axis of each transverse sectional area of the hoops locatedabove the plane of the fan blades being directed downwardly whenextended inwardly so that the hoops located below and above the plane ofthe fan blades are inclined in the general direction of the air stream,and means integral with the hoops for spacing the hoops apart from eachother so as to provide air passages between the hoops.

4. In a fan stand assembly including a guard assembly having a pluralityof substantially horizontally disposed molded annular hoops each havinga tear-shaped transverse cross sectional area wherein the longitudinalaxis of the tearshaped transverse cross sectional area forms an acuteangle with the diameter of the hoop, and a plurality of spacingprojections inte ral with the hoops, said spacing projections having atearshaped cross sectional area.

'5. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, said base including aplurality of circumferentially disposed legs, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the basefor encircling the motor and the fan, each of said hoops havingtear-shaped transverse cross sectional area, the longitudinal axis ofeach transverse cross sectional area forming an acute angle with thediameter of the hoop so that the hoops have angularly disposed arcuatesurfaces, a plurality of pairs of projections integral with the hoops,there being one pair of projections on each hoop for each leg, saidprojections holding the hoops in spaced relation from each other, andmeans for holding the hoops and the base as a unitary structure.

6. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and theeiectric fan, said base including aplurality of circumferentially disposed legs, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the basefor encircling the motor and the fan, each of said hoops havingtearshaped transverse cross sectional area, the iongitudinal axis ofeach transverse cross sectional area forming an acute angle with thediameter of the hoop so that the hoops have angularly disposed arcuatesurfaces, a plurality of pairs of projections integral with the hoops,there being one pair of projections on each hoop for each leg, saidprojections holding the hoops in spaced relation from each other, eachof the projections having a hole registering with a like hole in theprojections on the other hoops, said projections holding the hoops inspaced relation from each other, and rods extending through the holes inthe hoops for holding the hoops together in a unitary structure.

7. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, said base including aplurality of circumferentially disposed legs, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the basefor encircling the motor and the fan, each of said hoops havingtear-shaped transverse cross sectional area, the longitudinal axis ofeach transverse cross sectional area forming an acute angle with thediameter of the hoop so that the hoops have angularly disposed arcuatesurfaces, a plurality of pairs of projections on each hoop for each leg,said projections holding the hoops in spaced relation from each other,each of the projections having a hole registering with a like hole inthe projections on the other hoops, saidprojections holding the hoops inspaced relation from each other, rods extending through the holes in thehoops for holding the hoops together in a unitary structure, and a'topoverlying said hoops, said top having a downwardly directed arcuatemarginal portion for covering the upper end of the retaining rods.

8. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electr c fan of thecirculatory type and its motor,

said fan including a base for supporting the motor and the electric fan,a pluralty of substantially horizontallv disposcd molded hoops stackedupon the base for enclosing the motor and the fan, a plurality ofprojections integral w'th the hoops, said projections holding the hoopsin spaced relation from each other,, said projections being providedwith holes aligned with like holes in adjacent projections, a conicalmember lying on top of the hoops, said conical member having anoutwardly directed horizontally disposed flange portion overlying thetop hoop, said flange having apertures registering with the holes in thehoops, bolts extending through the holes in the hoops, and the aperturesin the flange or the conical member for holding the hoops and theconical member together, a top overlying the conical member, said tophaving an overhanging arcuate marginal portion overlying the upper endsof the bolts so as to conceal the same, and means for holding the top inposition.

9. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said ian including a. base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the base for enclosingthe motor and the fan, a plurality of projections integral with thehoops, said projections holding the hoops in spaced relation from eachother, saidprojections being provided with holes aligned with like holesin adjacent projections, a conical member lying on top of the hoops,said conical member having an outwardly directed horizontally disposedflange portion overlying the top hoop, said flange having aperturesregistering with the holes in the hoops, bolts extending through theholes in the hoops and the apertures in the flange of the conical memberfor holding the hoops and the conical member together, a top overlyingthe conical member, said top having an overhanging arcuate marginalportion overlying the upperv ends of the bolts so as to conceal thesame, said top having downwardly projecting bosses, and means engagingthe bosses for securing the top to the conical member.

10. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan including a base for supportingthe motor and the'electric fan, a plurality of substantlallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon the base for enclosingthe motor and the fan, a plurality of projections integral with thehoops, said projections holding. the hoops in spaced relation from eachother, said projections be n provided with holes aligned with like holesin adjacent projections, a conical member lying 1 arcuatemarginal'portion overlying the upper ends of the bolts so as to concealthe same, said conical member having upwardly directed bosses, the topmember having downwardly directed apertured bosses registering with thebosses on the conical member, and means for securing the bosses togetherso as to hold the top in position.

, 11. An electric fan enclosure for supporting posed molded hoopsstacked upon the base forenclosing the motor and the fan, a plurality ofapertured projections integral with the hoops,

. 7 said projections holding the hoops in spaced relation from eachother and with the apertures in the projections reglstering'with theapertures in the base, a conical member having an outwardly directedhorizontally disposed flange overlying the top hoop. said flange beingpro-' vided with apertures registering with the apertures in theprojections of the hoops, and bolts extending through the apertures inthe flange of the conical member, through the apertures in the hoops andthroughthe apertures in the base, for holding the conical member, thehoops and the base together as a unitary structure.

12. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, said base being provided witha plurality of legs, apertures extending through the base adjacent thelegs, a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed molded hoopsstacked upon the base for enclosing the motor and the fan, a pluralityof apertured projections integral with the hoops, said projectionsholding the hoops in spaced relation from each other, the apertures ofadjacent projections registering with each other and with the aperturesin the base, a conical member having an outwardly directed horizontallydisposed flange overlying the top hoop, said flange being provided withapertures registering with the apertures in the projections of thehoops, bolts extending through the apertures in the flange of theconical member, through the apertures in the hoops and through theapertures in the base forholding the conical member, the hoops and thebase together as a unitary structure, and a molded top member overlyingsaid hoops, said top having a downwardly directed arcuate portion forcovering the upper end of the bolts:

13. An electric fan enclosure for enclosing an electric fan of thecirculatory type and its motor,

said enclosure including a base for supporting overlying the hoops, "theconical member being rovided with an outwardly directed flange portionprovided with apertures registering with the apertures in theprojections. and bolts extending through the apertures in the flangeportion and the apertures in the projections for holding the hoops andthe conical member together.

14. An electric fan enclosure for supporting an electrician of thecirculatory type and its motor, said fan enclosure including a base forsupporting the motor and the electric fan, a plural ity of substantiallyhorizontally disposed molded hoops stacked upon thebasefor encirclingthe motor and the fan, each'of said hoops having a tear-drop shapedtransverse cross sectional area,

a plurality of projections integral with the hoops, said projectionsholding the hoops in spaced relation from each other, a top having anarcuate marginal portion provided with bosses'overlying the projectionsof the hoops, and means for holding the top, the hoops and the base as aunitary structure.

